Continuous metal building framing member

ABSTRACT

A continuous metal building framing member may be cut and bent to form at least one wall member and at least one roofing member. The continuous metal building framing member may eliminate or reduce the use of web connector clips, rafter ties, and stud-to-rafter or top plate-to-rafter clip connections while expediting wall and roof assembly in light gauge cold formed steel framed building structures. The framing members may be specific pre-notched steel framing members, notched at predetermined bend locations, with remaining web and flange material to be structurally significant after bending, while simultaneously dictating points and extend of bending. The framing members may be 1) pre-notched framing members to be folded at notched locations to pre-determined angles which provide roof pitch angles and elevation; 2) entire wall and rafter sections formed from one continuous framing member; and 3) rapidly screwed or welded together with the remaining overlapping web material to permanently fix the desired angles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to framing materials and, more particularly, to a combination of wall studs and rafters composed of one continuous cold formed framing member.

Traditional light gauge steel framed structures are composed of individual members, cut to length, with various end-cut angles, held together with connector clips and track members. These members are then fastened together with screws or welded to secure individual connections. These conventional structures requires substantial work in cutting and attaching framing members together with, for example, web connector clips, rafter ties and stud-to-rafter or top plate-to-rafter clip connections.

As can be seen, there is a need for a metal building framing member that may eliminate or reduce the need for clips or other attachment members for forming building framing members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a building framing member comprises at least one stud member and at least one rafter member continuously formed from a single piece of a metal framing member; a notch and a slot cut into a portion of the building framing member, the notch and the slot adapted to create a bend line, the bend line adapted to permit the building framing member to bend therealong to align the stud member and the rafter member at a predetermined angle.

In another aspect of the present invention, a continuous metal framing member comprises a first stud member; a first rafter member formed continuously with the first stud member, the first rafter member spanning from the first stud member to a roof ridge of a building assembled with the continuous metal framing member; a second rafter member formed continuously with the first rafter member, the second rafter member spanning from the roof ridge to a second stud member, wherein the second stud member is formed continuously with the second rafter member.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a continuous metal building framing member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the continuous metal building framing member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the continuous metal building framing member of FIG. 1 prior to bending;

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of another portion of the continuous metal building framing member of FIG. 1 prior to bending;

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective front view of another portion of the continuous metal building framing member of FIG. 1 after bending;

FIG. 6 is a perspective back view of the detailed view of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of a rafter peak junction of the continuous metal building framing member of FIG. 1 after bending.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a continuous metal building framing member that may be cut and bent to form at least one wall member and at least one roofing member. The continuous metal building framing member may eliminate or reduce the use of web connector clips, rafter ties, and stud-to-rafter or top plate-to-rafter clip connections while expediting wall and roof assembly in light gauge cold formed steel framed building structures. The framing members may be specific pre-notched steel framing members, notched at predetermined bend locations, with remaining web and flange material to be structurally significant after bending, while simultaneously dictating points and extend of bending. The framing members may be 1) pre-notched framing members to be folded at notched locations to pre-determined angles which provide roof pitch angles and elevation; 2) entire wall and rafter sections formed from one continuous framing member; and 3) rapidly screwed or welded together with the remaining overlapping web material to permanently fix the desired angles.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, a framing member 10 may be formed from a continuous piece of metal framing material to form both stud members 12 and rafter members 14. The framing member 10 may be a cold formed steel (CFS) framing member, typically a C-shape stud member per ASTM C645 or ASTM C955.

A stud-to-rafter joint 16 may be formed by cutting and notching the framing member 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A notch in the stud member 12 may define the wall height. A first slot 20 a may be cut in a long side of the framing member 10 and a second slot 20 b may be cut in the short end of the C-shaped framing member 10 as shown in FIG. 3. A bend line 22 may be where the rafter member 14 bends away from the stud member 12. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the framing member 10 is bent, a fastening mechanism 32, such as rivets, bolts, a weld, a clinch, or the like, may connect the overlapping portions of the framing member 10 to secure the stud-to-rafter joint 16 at a desired angle.

A rafter peak junction 18 may be formed by cutting and notching the framing member 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. A notch 26 in the rafter member may be made on an interior side of the framing member 10. The notch 26 may be formed equidistant from each side of a bend line 30 of the rafter member 14. A slot 24 may be cut across the long side of the framing member 10 and a notch 28 may be cut out of the short end of the C-shaped framing member 10 as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 7, when the framing member 10 is bent, the notch 28 may allow the framing member 10 to abut together to help secure the desired angle at the roof peak. Similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the overlapping material of the framing member 10 may be secured together to help secure the desired angle at the roof peak.

The notches (such as notches 28) and slots (such as slots 20 a, 20 b, and 24) may be manufactured in predetermined locations as a component of the framing member's manufacture, either as a finished or a partially finished notch/slot combination and in multiple configurations and/or cut in the field as needed.

While the above description and drawings describes a continuous framing member including a stud member, a rising rafter member, a falling rafter member and another stud member, the present invention may include any number of continuous framing members. For example, the present invention may include a single stud member and a single rafter member adapted to be connected to a separate ridge member, such as an engineered ridge joist.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A building framing member comprising: at least one stud member and at least one rafter member continuously formed from a single piece of a metal framing member; a notch and a slot cut into a portion of the building framing member, the notch and the slot adapted to create a bend line, the bend line adapted to permit the building framing member to bend therealong to align the stud member and the rafter member at a predetermined angle.
 2. The building framing member of claim 1, wherein the building framing member is a C-shape cold formed steel framing member.
 3. The building framing member of claim 1, further comprising an attachment mechanism adapted to connecting overlapping material at a junction of the stud member and the rafter member.
 4. The building framing member of claim 3, wherein the attachment member is selected from bolts, rivets, a clinch, and a weld.
 5. The building framing member of claim 1, further comprising: a first rafter member adapted to slope upward from a first stud member, the first rafter member formed continuously with the stud member; and a second rafter member adapted to slop downward from the first rafter member, the second rafter member formed continuously with the first rafter member.
 6. The building framing member of claim 5, further comprising a rafter notch and a rafter slot formed in the building framing member, the rafter notch and the rafter slot adapted to form a bend line where the first rafter member and the second rafter member are adapted to bend to a predetermined angle thereabout.
 7. The building framing member of claim 6, further comprising a second stud member formed continuously with the second rafter member.
 8. The building framing member of claim 7, further comprising a second notch and a second slot cut into a portion of the building framing member, the second notch and the second slot adapted to create a second bend line, the second bend line adapted to permit the building framing member to bend therealong to align the second stud member and the second rafter member at a predetermined angle.
 9. A continuous metal framing member comprising: a first stud member; a first rafter member formed continuously with the first stud member, the first rafter member spanning from the first stud member to a roof ridge of a building assembled with the continuous metal framing member; a second rafter member formed continuously with the first rafter member, the second rafter member spanning from the roof ridge to a second stud member, wherein the second stud member is formed continuously with the second rafter member.
 10. The continuous metal framing member of claim 9, wherein: a first bend line is formed at a junction of the first stud member and the first rafter member by forming a first notch and a first slot in a portion of the continuous metal framing member, the first bend line adapted to bend the continuous framing member at a predetermined angle to provide a predetermined roof pitch from the first rafter member; a second bend line is formed at a junction of the first rafter member and the second rafter member by forming a second notch and a second slot in a portion of the continuous metal framing member, the second bend line adapted to bend the continuous framing member at a predetermined angle to provide a predetermined roof pitch from the second rafter member; and a third bend line is formed at a junction of the second rafter member and the second stud member by forming a third notch and a third slot in a portion of the continuous metal framing member, the third bend line adapted to bend the continuous framing member. 